Mascot, Nickname and Traditions
East Carolina University fans are excited about the Pirates sports program that not only has a
proud tradition, but one that is becoming dominant across the state and beyond.
The Pirate Mascot
A costumed mascot first emerged in
1983. Known as Pee Dee the Pirate, the
University shortened the school symbol’s
name to just “Pirate” in 1985.
However the Pee Dee name reemerged in 2008.
Other school mascots representing the
school have included a live wildcat and a
couple of dogs including a Great Dane.
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium
This Pirates lair was first built in 1963 and
as the football program has grown, this
facility has been expanded several times.
The 2010 expansion increased the
stadium’s capacity to 50,000.
East Carolina Football Legends
Chris Johnson
Johnson was a 4-year star
at ECU before being drafted
in the first round of the 2008
NFL Draft by the Tennessee
Titans.
Johnson drew
interest from the NFL after
gaining nearly 2,000 yards
of total offense and scoring
23 TD’s.
Since joining the NFL,
Johnson has been a force in
2009.